Supreme Commander Deng and the MSFR,the U.S. Army/Military Special Forces Reserve unit

In California, "Supreme Commander" Yupeng Deng charged Chinese nationals hundreds of dollars to join his bogus army unit. In return, they received real military uniforms, fraudulent credentials, a parade, and a visit to an aircraft carrier (actually the decommissioned USS Midway, a museum in San Diego) which they attended in full uniform.

Mr. Deng had an office that looked like an army recruiting center.

If his troops wanted to advance in rank, they could pay Mr. Deng more money. They were also told that joining his army unit would ease their way into becoming U.S. citizens.

For two years, his army unit marched in city parades in Monterey Park, California.

After he was caught, Mr. Deng claimed that his army was really a type of Salvation Army, for charity.

Mr. Deng pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison, charged with theft by false pretenses, manufacturing deceptive government documents and counterfeit of an official government seal.